15,000 Waspi women demand action as Hunt makes triple lock pledge but refuses to commit to compensation

Waspi chair, Angela Madden, said: "Now that the Ombudsman has made such a clear ruling on maladministration, it is up to Parliament to determine the compensation package.

"But MPs can only do that if the Government makes time for the necessary debates and votes in the Commons.

"The vow of silence taken on this by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ministers last week must come to an end today with a clear statement in the Commons about what will happen next.

"It is just not good enough for the Government to slope away for a long Easter break in the hope that Waspi women will go away. We won’t.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson has told reporters that the government would comply with ‘parliamentary processes’ around compensation. However, until the MPs are given adequate time to reach a conclusion on how to compensate, no process will begin.

Writing to Commons Leader, Penny Mordaunt MP, said “the Commons must urgently have the opportunity to debate and vote” on compensation proposals.

She has called for an urgent debate and vote on the issue, with 15,000 women signing the letter. And a petition has been launched which has already got around 28,000 signatures.

With the Tories reiterating their commitment to the state pension triple lock, many groups are arguing for the Government to grant compensation of at least £10,000 each to the affected Waspi women.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women – which is backed by scores of MPs across the political spectrum concluded that “women have had their emotional, physical and mental circumstances totally obliterated by a lack of reasonable notice”.

Asked about the matter this weekend, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “We want to resolve it as quickly as we can, but there’s no secret vault of money.

“The money we would pay in compensation has to come from other taxpayers, so we do have to take time to get this fair.”

Mr Hunt was also asked whether it was responsible for the Government to leave “huge unpaid bills” to the next parliament.

He replied: “We are not pushing those very, very difficult challenges to the right at all.

“When it comes to infected blood, we’ve been absolutely clear we will pay compensation. It’s a terrible, terrible scandal, it’s gone on for far too long.”

Mr Hunt confirmed the current triple lock system to decide how much the state pension rises each year would "absolutely" remain if the Conservatives win the general election, which must be held by January 28, 2025, for the whole of the next parliament.

He told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg he was confident the "expensive" promise would be paid by growing the economy.

Mr Hunt said he realised continuing the policy would be an "expensive commitment" but added: "You can only make that commitment if you're confident that you're going to deliver the economic growth that is going to pay for it."

Over the last six years since the PHSO investigation began, MPs from all parties have voiced their support for Waspi women but neither Labour nor the Conservative Party has made a firm commitment ahead of the general election.

During the course of Waspi's campaign – and the prolonged Ombudsman investigation – more than 270,000 Waspi women have died waiting for justice.

Tory MP and Co-Chair of the State Pension Inequality for Women APPG, Peter Aldous, said: “These millions of women worked, cared for families, and supported communities all their lives. They deserve the dignity of fast compensation.

"The State Pension Inequality for Women APPG submitted a report to the PHSO in 2022, calling on them to recommend a category 6 injustice.

“While it is disappointing the PHSO did not agree with this, it is important these findings are taken into account as Parliament consider how best to deliver fair compensation.

“The campaign for justice for 1950s women goes on until Parliament reaches the right conclusion.”

Wendy Chamberlain MP, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions Spokesperson, said: “The Ombudsman report must now be enacted and a Minister should come to Parliament immediately to spell out next steps to compensate these women.

“The Liberal Democrats are calling for the government to bring forward a plan now to compensate Waspi women."

A DWP spokesperson said: “We will consider the Ombudsman’s report and respond in due course, having cooperated fully throughout this investigation.

“The government has always been committed to supporting all pensioners in a sustainable way that gives them a dignified retirement whilst also being fair to them and taxpayers.

“The state pension is the foundation of income in retirement and will remain so as we deliver a further 8.5 per cent rise in April which will increase the state pension for 12 million pensioners by £900.”